easybabylife-logo

3 Month Old Hates Tummy Time

by Jane
(Michigan)

My 3 month old cries immediately whenever I put him on his tummy for the required "tummy time" of 20 minutes each day. He's holding his head up when I carry him, but when I put him on his belly, he just plants his face straight down and shakes his head back and forth. Once in a while he gets mad enough to push up on his forearms, but that's about it.

I let this go on for about 5 minutes and then I pick him up at which point he is so miserable it takes forever to calm him down.

I've tried getting on the floor with him, giving him toys, rubbing his back, putting him on the bed so he's more level with me, but to no avail. What to do?






Baby Help Line Respone:

Jane, you're a wonderful writer, I can really picture your furious little son there on the floor...

Actually, if I were you, I wouldn't force it. Babies learn to hold their heads one way or the other. (Most adults can... ;-) )

Maybe your boy will sit early and crawl late, but that doesn't really matter. Or, in a few weeks, he has gained enough strength to start enjoying some tummy time.

One thing you can try if you do want to put him belly down, is to put him on a relatively firm pillow with his feet on the floor, so that his face is automatically lifted off the ground. That position is not as hard for the young babies and with MOM in front of him singing or making funny faces, he might just endure some of his so hated tummy time. A mirror might also be fun.

But then again if he doesn't, simply trust him - he'll do it when he is ready for it!

Good luck!

/Paula

Comments for
3 Month Old Hates Tummy Time

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 17, 2008
Lap time
by: Anonymous

My daughter was like this and the health nurse suggested that we do some 'lap time' instead. Just lay him on his tummy on your lap so his head is just over the edge of your leg. If he chooses to leave his head down it should still be supported.

However, I found if I did this periodically throughout the day, especially when there were other people around or other interesting things going on, my baby would lift her head up to see what was going on.

Remember, it doesnt have to be 20 min all at once, and lets be honest here, how many teenagers do you know that can't lift their head up off the floor? He will get it eventually whether you push tummy time or not. If it upsets both of you then give it a couple of days, even a week off. He will be crawling before you even know it and you will miss these times.

Oh, also my baby always did better tummy time when there was other babys or children around. We went to a group in our area for new mothers and she did her best pushing up there.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Baby Help Line



Did you like what you just read? Share you love with other moms:





Want More Baby Tips?

FREE Baby Care Ezine
Enter your E-mail Address

Enter your First Name

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you
Have An Easy Baby Life!.
For more information about the ezine, click here.

NEW at Easy Baby Life!


We Recommend...






XML RSS
What is this?
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Google



Google
 
| Home | Contact | Share this site | About us | Disclaimer | Privacy policy |

Copyright© 2006-2008. All rights reserved Easybabylife.com. Please review our disclaimer before using this site.